Official Luthiers Forum!

I usually use either or Deft lacquer or Minwax lacquer. Both are nitro based. I'll always use the same brand lacquer sealer underneath. I happen to have a can of Deft sanding sealer and a can of Minwax lacquer. The local store was out of the Minwax sealer. Has anyone ever had any issues using one brand of sealer under another brand of lacquer? Just want to be sure. If so I'll just pick up a can of the Deft lacquer but prefer not to spend the money if I don't have to....Mike

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Another day, another dollar.

I guess I'll have to give the vinyl sealer a try.

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Another day, another dollar.

You can get better lacquer in a can than deft. Mowhawk Behlen and Jet are actually designed for guitars. Deft is for furniture. All guitars that I finished with these finishes checked in a few years. You can get the Behlen and Jet at Grizzly.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

You can also "self" seal using the lacquer. It takes a few more coats than when using a sealer, but you don't have the transparency and adhesion issues some sealers may create.

John and Todd and Clay thanks for the suggestions. John and Todd I'm going to give one of these other lacquers a try. and I'm also going to check out the vinyl sealer.

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Another day, another dollar.

I was able to get Behlen vinyl sealer & stringed instrument lacquer in aerosol at my local Woodcraft.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

I agree with John, that there are better finishes to use than Deft...
I used deft on three instruments & all showed checking of the finish after five years.
+1 on leaving your sanding sealer on the shelf. I get much better adhesion (and a better looking finish) using vinyl sealer.

Careful using the lacquer itself as a sealer, not all lacquers are self sealing.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

This may be a dumb question, but what makes a lacquer self sealing (or not), and what is the danger of using non self sealing lacquer as a seal coat?

Does the grain "pop" nice under a vinyl sealer? How well does it match the refraction index of wood?

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Not sure what makes the difference in the chemistry, but generally if the manufacturer recommends a vinyl sealer the coating may not be self sealing as lacquer will not burn into vinyl. It's a mechanical bond of some type. Certain glazes and other effects must be done between vinyl sandwich coats to ensure adhesion. Sealers are there to form a bridge between the wood and the finish. When the sealer fails the coating will peel. If the wood was not sealed and the finish can't hang on it will fail and peel as well.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/